Blake Griffin - What is His Role?

[Vermont Green]

I am trying to figure out what they are doing with Blake.  He seems to play only sporadically but when he does play, he plays relatively big minutes.  In last night's game (@ TOR), 32 min, 13 pts, 8 rebs, all around decent game.  Looked healthy and in shape.

So why do they keep him out for 2 or 3 games completely but then play him 32 min (I know Horford was out).  Why not play him some in every game so that he has continuity?  I don't recall a player having his minutes managed in this way.  I am sure it is at some level what they feel is best to preserve him for the playoffs, but it is unusual.

And what is the end game here?  I am still not clear that he is going to be a productive player getting minutes in the playoffs or not.  To me, he is playing well enough to play say 16 min every night and then maybe more when Horford is resting.  I wonder if when needed for the playoffs, will he play every game or if this is just what he needs to recover?

[radiohead]

I think his role really is to be an insurance/back up big. Rob and Al will probably be managed throughout the regular season. Blake and Luke will play crucial roles if and when Rob and Al miss games. Some games Luke will get more playing time, and Blake will have his share on some games as well.

[Moranis]

Blake basically plays the Horford role, so he only plays when Al is out.

[Donoghus]

Depth.

[radiohead]

Depth.

This pretty much sums it up in one word.

[bdm860]

I think his role right now is mostly Horford's understudy.  To be ready to play in short bursts if Horford can't play. 

But since he's old like Horford, he probably can't bring that same energy every night if he were to play consistently.

He's the donut tire in your trunk, meant only to be used for short distances, you don't want to put a lot of miles on it.

Also he helps maintain the rotations.  If you remember when Scal was on the Celtics in '08 and '09 he started 9 and 8 games.  These weren't games where the starters were rested, but games when KG or Perk were out for a few games, even though he wasn't KG or Perks backup.  So Scal would go from not playing, to starting and playing 20-30 mpg.  This was to maintain the rotations, so guys like Posey, Big Baby, Powe could still come off the bench and play with the 2nd unit and maintain their current role.

[Sophomore]

He's the donut tire in your trunk, meant only to be used for short distances, you don't want to put a lot of miles on it.

This is perfect.

Also, he’s better in short stints and in certain matchups. He gives pretty savvy and hard-nosed rebounding, some smart offensive play. And he’s pretty limited on defense - the lack of quickness is really a problem. They had to send him help all night on that end. Toronto lacks a true center and a creative half-court offense; good spot for him to show his strengths and hide his limits.

[droopdog7]

I think the role he's playing right now is awesome.  The only question for me is whether Blake will eventually earn a role in the regular rotation.  And, there may be a chance for that.  I heard within the week that Blake did not expect to be picked up as quickly as he was.  He is only now starting to round into shape, so maybe he has more to give?

[RockinRyA]

They are saving his legs, keeping him fresh for when he is really needed. Right now he is splitting with al on back to backs. Like al blake is a good passer and a good shooter. Al is just a better defender and more durable but their function on offense is the same. Defense the difference is blake is emplyoed more towards drop coverage.

[td450]

The most likely explanations are that he tends to play better when he plays more minutes but he has knee swelling, or he plays much better with the starters, but obviously isn't as good as Horford at this stage.

I have to say watching last night that Kornet looked equally great. His cutting and finishing were startlingly good, and the ball handlers are starting to really figure out how to get him the ball. If he can continue to play like this consistently, he's going to be a very valuable big.

[Roy H.]

Blake basically plays the Horford role, so he only plays when Al is out.

Yep, that's pretty much it.

If my memory is correct here, didn't Doc do something similar with Scal?  He wasn't KG's direct backup, but when KG was out, Scal took his spot, so as not to disrupt other roles on the team.

Scal started nine straight games for the 2008 title team, and the team went 7-2.  They lost to Cleveland (Lebron) and Orlando (Prime D. Howard) by a total of four points.

Then we went 8-0 in 2009 with Scal as a starter, before Big Baby filled in for KG on a full-time basis. 

[SparzWizard]

Be Horford's fill-in, and maybe an extra big to throw at on the likes of Giannis, Embiid, Davis, Jokic etc

[footey]

I was critical of this signing, the only thing I thought Brad screwed up, when it happened.

Blake is proving me wrong. Coach has found  proper usage of him, and he is producing.

Now I think the signing was really good. (of course I am writing this the day after he helped us win the game!)

[Kuberski33]

If Grant W moves on, I can see Blake sticking around for another season as part of whatever kind of committee approach Brad comes up with to fill Grant's role.

[Vermont Green]

I get that his principle role right now is to fill in for Horford when Horford is being rested.  I get that.  And I get that they are using him in a manner that allows other rotations to stay the same.  He takes Horford's role when Horford is out, everyone else stays the same.

He has mostly been paired with Grant when he plays.  Sometimes the single big, sometimes with Kornet.  That is a pretty limited role though.  He seems to have rounded into shape.  Integrates his game very seamlessly (high court IQ).  Why not expand his role to take some minutes at PF also and relieve the load for others even when Horford plays?  Have that flexibility for later in the season or playoffs?

Or is this it?  This is his role which basically means we don't see him in the playoffs unless there is foul trouble.